APRA AMCOS Reveals New Diana Torossian Emerging Songwriter Award

APRA AMCOS has announced a new award for Australian singer-songwriters in tribute to artist manager Diana Torossian, who passed away last September.

Torossian was the Director of her own company, DT Talent Management. Throughout her illustrious career, Torossian was responsible for discovering, nurturing, and managing some of Australia’s most successful artists and songwriters.

In her early days at EMI Music Australia, Torossian signed the likes of the legends we know today: Baby Animals, Hoodoo Gurus, and Diesel.

During Torossian’s time at Mushroom Music Publishing, Sony Music Australia, Polygram Music Publishing Australia, Peter Hoyland Management, and as Manager of A&R at BMG Music Publishing Australia, she was involved with artists including Powderfinger, Rogue Traders, David Campbell, and many more.

Going independent after leaving BMG, Torossian remained a major player in the Australian music industry, which led to her managing David Musumeci and Anthony Egizii (DNA Songs). This Australian songwriting team amassed eight million units, seven #1s and twenty Top 10 chart appearances with hits for The Veronicas, Samantha Jade, Dami Im, Jessica Mauboy, Delta Goodrem and many more.

As Torossian was such a passionate supporter of local songwriters, it’s only fitting that a new award has been named in her honour. The inaugural Diana Torossian Emerging Songwriter Award will be presented in July 2025.

Entries for the award will be available to all songwriters looking to grow their careers in the music industry. They must be APRA AMCOS members based in Australia.

The winner will receive $5,000 in cash plus $20,000 worth of songwriting and mentoring sessions, including five songwriting sessions with Andrew Lowden (Thrones), David Musumeci and Anthony Egizi (DNA), Evie Irie, Gary Pinto, and Michael Fatkin, and five mentoring sessions with Lorrae McKenna (Golden Grants), Michael Parisi (management), Paul Harris (Warner Music A&R), Rachel Kelly (Unified Publishing) and Sammie Walsh (Beehive PR).

The songwriter who comes in second place will receive a year’s career development course called the Songwriter Success Masterplan at the Australian Songwriters Conference, which is valued at $6,500.

Entries are now open and will close on Monday, 16 June, at 5:30 pm AEST. The winners will be announced at a special event on Thursday, 24 July, at the Sydney APRA AMCOS offices. You can find more information about applying for the award here.

David Musumeci from DNA Songs said of the new award: “Diana's passing left a gaping hole in the hearts of the many lives she touched. Di managed us (DNA) for over 16 years, and together we experienced so many incredible moments that will never be forgotten.

“Diana loved music. She loved everything about it: the artists, the industry, but above all the songs. Di loved working with songwriters as she believed they were the unsung heroes of the music world. I’m so proud that her legacy gets to live on through this amazing award.”

Andrew Lowden added, “Di was not only my manager but also my best friend and being a part of her life journey for me was a blessing I’m not sure will ever be beaten.

“She was, as anyone that knew her knows, a firebrand of fierce advocacy for writers and producers, a publishing and sync oracle and an all-round storm in a teacup. This was all fuelled by a quiet, deep reverence for the power of music, and I’d give anything to have one more late-night conversation with her about Siouxsie and the Banshees or Monsoon. 

“I’m overjoyed that her legacy gets to live on in the form of this award, and I know that she would be so proud that she can still have a hand in shepherding songwriters to the world.”

Karen Don, Head of Membership at APRA AMCOS, concluded: “Diana’s untimely passing last year was a huge loss to the Australian music community. Given her dedication and passion for Australia’s best and brightest new talent, it seems only fitting that this award has been established in her name, and we are delighted to be able to support it to help the next generation of songwriters get their foot on the ladder.”